Baroque Art and Culture: A 17th-18th Century Movement
Baroque Art and Culture
Baroque was a European cultural movement that developed during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was influenced by the religious tensions that divided Europe:
- In Catholic countries, new attitudes were expressed by an intense spirituality, which affected all areas of life.
- In Protestant countries, life was viewed in a more individualistic way. Economic success was highly valued.
Baroque Culture
All branches of culture flourished during the Baroque period:
- Art: Like Renaissance art, Baroque art was inspired by classical forms. However, Baroque artists attempted to portray reality as it was, without idealizing it. Their works were full of movement and contrast.
- Literature: Major works were written. This was the age of Shakespeare in England and Molière in France.
- Music: Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi were among the greatest composers; the first operas were composed.
In Catholic absolutist states, Baroque art was used as propaganda to show the power of the monarch and the vitality of the Counter-Reformation.
Baroque Architecture
Baroque architecture tried to surprise the viewer. They used the following features:
- Curved lines and spiral columns
- Light effects on facades by combining recesses and projections in the walls. Open pediments also created an impression of light and shade.
- Ornamentation on facades, combining painting, sculpture, and architecture.
- Fine materials like colored marble.
Rome, the center of the Counter-Reformation, was also where the Baroque style of architecture began. Gian Lorenzo Bernini built Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican, and Francesco Borromini designed exceptional churches.
The Baroque style spread rapidly to most of Europe, but in some countries, it was simpler than in Italy.
Characteristics of Baroque Painting
The main characteristics of Baroque painting were the following:
- It represented a range of subjects, like religion, mythology, portraits, and scenes from daily life.
- New subjects included the landscape and the still life, which showed objects, food, or plants.
- People were represented realistically. They were not idealized and might have physical defects.
- Scenes showed movement and energy.
- The technique of chiaroscuro drew sharp contrasts between light and shade.
- It showed strong emotions, which were expressed through gestures.
Schools of Baroque Painting
Although Baroque painting had some common features, there was a wide range of schools and styles:
The Italian School
The outstanding Italian Baroque painter was Caravaggio. His characters were inspired by ordinary people with all their imperfections. Caravaggio’s technique of using light and shade was called tenebrism, which was a version of chiaroscuro.
The Dutch School
This was greatly influenced by the bourgeois taste of the merchants who commissioned and paid for the paintings. The paintings reflected their lives. Rembrandt was the most outstanding painter in the Dutch School. Frans Hals was a fine portrait painter. Vermeer specialized in interior scenes in bourgeois homes.
The Flemish School
This was greatly influenced by Italian painting in its naturalism, or realism, and in its attention to detail. Rubens was the real painter in the Flemish school. His works stood out for their rich color and sense of movement. Van Dyck was one of Rubens’ disciples. He was famous for his elegant portraits and his use of color.